Prosperity plan’s focus: health care, environment, tourism
By Kathryn Reed
INCLINE VILLAGE –Tourism, health-wellness, and the environment. These three areas are supposed to be the economic saviors of Lake Tahoe.
In a room full of about 70 of Tahoe’s movers and shakers on Monday the two-hour talk was all about the Lake Tahoe Basin Prosperity Plan. A bit of irony is the meeting was at the Lone Eagle Grille in Incline. Incline Village is sometimes called Income Village based on the wealth of the homeowners.
John Breternitz, Washoe County commissioner, opens the economic forum on Aug. 16. Photo/Kathryn Reed
El Dorado County Supervisor Norma Santiago, who has been instrumental with a handful of others to initiate this plan, promised this isn’t just another document to collect dust, but is one with legs.
But the problems of today are what they were 20 years ago, only exacerbated because of the recession, and the declining relevance of gaming in the basin and throughout Nevada.
This group believes the prosperity plan will change what the Lake Tahoe Basin will look like 20 years from now. If all things go according to this plan, employment won’t be in double digits, lake clarity will continue to improve, the area will be transformed into environmental innovation centers, a sports commission will attract major events, medical centers of excellence will sprout, high speed Internet access everywhere will allow for telemedicine and e-commerce.
But much of what is being said is what the people who live “poverty with a view” know – it has always been about the environment. Many in that room are the ones who pooh-poohed that for years. Their personal wallets were thick, or government-agency bank accounts flush with cash. Not so anymore. Poverty with a view is hitting closer to home.
People for years have said Tahoe needs a second economy to sustain itself during the ebbs and flows of tourism. But no one did anything. Look at Boulder, Colo., a mountain town that thrives not on tourism, but biotechnology firms. And, yet, it is an outdoor mecca much like Tahoe.
Tahoe could already have a world-class orthopedic center instead of being in the infancy of creating one. Dr. Richard Steadman left South Tahoe’s Barton Memorial Hospital for Vail in 1990 because there he had the support to create what he wanted.
Steadman’s website says, ”Dr. Steadman has developed numerous techniques for knee surgery and rehabilitation that have been adopted worldwide for the treatment of various knee disorders.”
What if those had been created in Tahoe? Would the area be more prosperous? Would people come here for destination health care? That’s a goal of this prosperity plan – to have people come here for health care needs. Barton can’t survive on the medical needs of locals. When it’s a bad ski season or mountain injuries are down, hospital revenues are blood red.
It was repeatedly pointed out at the Aug. 16 meeting that government is not going to be the savior. It will take the private sector to make this plan a reality. But it will also take buy-in from locals – the ones, perhaps, who have not been listened to in the past and have become jaded.
According to the executive summary the plan is, “To rebrand the region as a green, geotourism, health and wellness visitor destination, providing a unique, authentic Lake Tahoe experience including sports, recreation, culinary, historical, art, cultural experiences, environmental education and volunteer opportunities.”
As South Tahoe City Councilman Hal Cole put, it seemed like a political shindig more than a nuts and bolts meeting.
When Lake Tahoe News asked B Gorman, one of the leaders of the prosperity plan and executive director of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, if transit would be part of this, she said, “No.”
LTN responded that a reliable bus going around the lake would be good for those who need it and those who want it – locals and tourists; in addition to reducing vehicle miles traveled, which is always touted as an environmental benefit.
Lake Tahoe Community College and Sierra Nevada College were touted as places of higher learning that will help foster the goals. But in a climate where education spending is continually being cut, it’s hard to know if these institutions or universities in either state could be relied upon as incubators of Tahoe prosperity.
Today, according to stats provided by prosperity officials, Tahoe creates $4.7 billion in revenues a year. Tourism is the dominant contributor.
Rick Tremblay with the federal Economic Development Administration said for the short-term Tahoe needs to reinvent its tourism model, while for the long-term is needs to “aggressively invest in technology.”
His examples of small towns that have done big things were interesting, but oddly irrelevant to Lake Tahoe. The region doesn’t have the land for much of what he talked about. Nor is manufacturing likely to happen based on all the regulations.
During the panel discussion where six people were invited to give input to the plan, Jared Blumenfeld, Region IX administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said, “It’s not a new idea to be green. You need to get it right and be bold. You need to have goals.”
Goals, if there are any, were not discussed Monday.
Blumenfeld further pointed out, “I think your brand is ahead of where you are.” Meaning, people expect Tahoe to be green and healthy. He said people are disappointed to find out how that really isn’t the case, and how dilapidated so much of the infrastructure is. Blumenfeld also pointed out how it’s hard to eat healthfully in Tahoe.
John Breternitz, Washoe County commissioner, said questions asked by forum attendees and the answers would be put on the website, but the FAQ page says it’s under construction.
No new or unknown information here.
Another complete waste of taxpayer dollars.
Perhaps some of these folks who are marketing the outdoors should actually get outdoors instead of wining and dining at what their vision of an outdoor mecca is, a fat resort paying minimum wages
Get real folks, there are many who believed and still do, that the outdoors is what makes Tahoe. Not resorts, not timeshares, not casinos. How many of you in that room yesterday actually had a hand in building a trail, picking up others trash while hiking or biking, helped lost or injured users of your cash cow “the outdoors”? Get real folks, this is just another marketing hype.
Oh, and Norma, do something real instead of grandstanding. You preach we have the same problems as twenty years ago…..maybe because we have had the same folks in charge for twenty years.
I’ve got to go ride my bike in the outdoors now. I’ll let you know if I come across any locations for resorts to shuffle clients to see pine cones.
Transit not part of the plan? Are you serious? Was the traffic jam of idleing cars crawling into Tuesdays ‘Evironmental Summit’ not a clue to how dysfunctional and hypocritical that was?
Well, there’s the same problem we’ve had for 20+ years. If the plan is to reinvent our communities and change what the basin will look like 20 years from now, transit not only has to be a part of it…it has to be the foundation.
“According to the executive summary the plan is, “To rebrand the region as a green, geotourism, health and wellness visitor destination, providing a unique, authentic Lake Tahoe experience…”
Yeah? With the same old ‘unique and authentic’ traffic jams, auto noise and pollution, pathetic excuses for bike paths and a death defying dance to walk, wheel or bike around most parts of the basin? NO WAY that will EVER qualify us as a green, geotouristic, health and wellness oriented visitor destination. Other communities have already figured this out and saavy visitors are much more likely to support them because they offer something different from their day-to-day experience of sitting in traffic, stressed, while their vacation time ticks away.
As long as transit is left out of the plan…..we will not realize a fraction of the benefits of an otherwise ‘greened’ region.
Oh sure, Lake Tahoe’s beauty will continue to draw visitors….but not the ones this plan is hoping to attract.
Definitely time for a new story, but you don’t need ‘permission to play’ – just put your attention on what you want to grow…let in some light…and add water.
Dear editor and readers,
I would like to correct a misquote that appears in the Prosperity Plan article. When I was asked if the Prosperity Plan would pursue transit dollars I answered no, and I continued to explain that the Lake Tahoe Basin Prosperity Plan Steering Committee would be supporting those whose job it is to develop transportation solutions and pursue the funds to implement those solutions. For this reason Carl Hasty has attended several of the Steering Committee’s meetings and was present on Monday. An example of the Steering Committee’s support is evidenced by the fact that the Steering Committee has agreed to sign a support letter for an upcoming transportation funding grant on behalf of the TDT.
Transportation was a common topic raised by citizens participating in all 7 cluster group workshops held around the Basin and most certainly has been captured as a topic requiring solutions by the Plan. However, since we have a Tahoe Transportation District and MPO established in the Basin it would not fall within the purview of the LTBPP Steering Committee to make those funding requests.
That said, transportation is seen as such an integral part of the strategy that as attendees were welcomed to the session on Monday as if it were 2030 they were “thanked” for using the newly completed people moving infrastructure instead of their cars.
Transportaion is an issue that residents (both those who participated in workshops and those who did not) recognize and agree must be solved for the environment, leading to improved quality of life and experiences for both residents visitors. No one yearns to visit or live in a place where sitting in traffic is part of the daily grind. I believe everyone is in agreement that we must find funds to improve bike trails, develop waterborne transit etc. etc.
The Prosperity Plan is a strategic plan for the Basin which will be detailed and available by September. It is “our” (as in each citizen) plan and thus each of us and our many organizations will be challenged to work towards the recommendations suggested in the plan. The implementation of strategies and recommendations will be based upon resources and the expertise of various organizations along with each and every citizen getting engaged and participating where they feel a connection.
Citizens may decide to get engaged with one of the cluster work groups, or they might change their business model or perhaps start a new small business as they see a developing niche, or they may choose to become or continue to be a docent of our community. A simple expample of becoming a docent would be to recommend a bike trail, hike, wildflower location, cross country ski trail, historic site, favorite restaurant and especially volunteer opportunities such as trail clean-up days or snapshot day to visitors they meet on the bike path, ski lift, at the grocery store etc. We all have the ability and myriad opportunities to be docents and stewards and to encourage stewardship of this place which is at the very core of Geotourism – just one of the strategies recommended by the Prosperity Plan. Stewardship learned here by our visitors should also lead to better stewardship habits going home with our visitors leading to a healthier planet.
Thank you for allowing me a minute to make this correction. As you can see I am never likely to give a one word answer!
“B” Gorman
As a final comment invitations to the Prosperity Forum were extended to Elected Officials and Agency Department Heads from DC, CA and NV to provide them with a preview of the concepts being developed in the Prosperity Plan in order to receive their feedback. The consultants and Steering Committee wanted to hear their impressions and suggestions prior to completing the document. This was not a public hearing nor was it intended to outline the “steps”.
There will will be many opportunities for the public to participate in presentations and work groups in the coming months once the Plan is completed. Most importantly please get engaged in whatever way is the best fit for you, your family, your business, your club etc.
I owe B an apology. Being a citizen participant in the Basin Prosperity Plan workshops, I should have remembered the number of times transportation was dicussed as a key issue. I wrote my comment shortly after returning from Tuesdays Federal level Environmental Summit at Sand Harbor and was absolutely flabbergasted and frustrated by the lack of coordination for alternative transportation that had a long line of cars idleing (thus polluting and jamming traffic) waiting to enter the event. I did carpool with another attendee but many people arrived in single occupant vehicles….decidedly not environmentally friendly.
It was wrong of me to jump on that comment as I did without first confirming it with B. I knew better, and this is no excuse, but the stress and frustration of yesterdays traffic fiasco (and the Devil) made me do it……….or maybe it was from inhaling all those gas / diesel fumes. . .
Having said that….this just highlights the frustration many of us transportation advocates have felt for decades as we look toward creating a 21st century experience but are hampered by a 20th century transportation system using 19th century propulsion technology.
I have attended some of the prosperity meetings and felt they were well worth the time to attend. Contributing can be as simple as cleaning the sidewalk in front of one’s/friend’s place.
Tom, nice apology to B, a very respectable and professional thing to do and admit.
Let’s look at this though, the headway the basin has made towards acceptance and implementation of alternative transportation modes in the last thirty years has been minimal at best. The fact that we STILL have pedestrians walking the shoulders of highway 50 in the winter is totally unacceptable. The fact that we have bus stops without lighted safe shelters from the weather is unacceptable, the fact that we ACTUALLY HAVE sidewalks below the three inches of roadway sanding spoils along highway 50 and no organization, business owner, or agency steps up to expose/maintain them is ridiculous. No progress on shore to shore ferry service, no progress on signal syncronization & noise reduction, really not much progress at all when we talk about transportation. Why; because we marketed for years the casino’s and ski resorts only. Direct drive up and park corporations, hell bent on paying minimum wage and hiring temporary staff. In doing so we turned a blind eye to everything outside the hallowed halls of the giants; the beauty of Tahoe, and the folks that make their home here.
I’m a cyclist, an outdoorsman, and an avid user of the trail systems and backcountry here. You know me, and we have talked about these things many times before. While I support geotourism as a means for revenue, I am extremely disappointed that the buy in from the Chambers and others comes on the heels of the the economic recession and the fall of the gaming industry, too little, way too late. I question if the idea of geotourism would be on the table if the economy and gaming industry were healthy.
Where were the chambers, LTVA, City, and County all those years when Alta Alpina was bringing upwards of three thousand folks to town during the Death Ride in Alpine County? Not even a banner strung across the roadway welcoming them. The same can be said for many events over the years.
The possibilities are endless for large scale events here, and the progress Andy Chapman and others are making in getting the Tour of California here are commendable. Santa Cruz however, just backed out of the 2011 Tour of California because they made $10,000 on a $190,000 investment. Their infrastructure and staffing levels couldn’t handle the event. We need to realize that all those folks coming here will need to wait in traffic, walk along roadways without sidewalks, cross roads without crosswalks, get off their bikes because of no trail connectivity, and so on. Before we dream of ecomonic salvation from folks that like the outdoors and want to stay fit, we need to give those same folks a means to travel safely and efficiently through town and keep coming back.
In my mind the priorities are somewhat backwards. No doubt we can attract millions of folks here, but we don’t make it easy for business to benefit. Coverage rules, commercial floor area costs, parking mitigations, enviromental retrofits, sign restrictions and so on create huge obstacle to overcome with regard to micro development, the mom & pop businesses, or the start ups.
Yes, we can make money off of tourists who play in our backyard, but in doing so, we must re-invest into the town so that we provide a positive experience.
Ok, time to ride.
Thank you and Amen Froggy. I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the lack of progress in transportation alternatives. You’ve also correctly identified the ongoing recession and the fact that gaming has lost it’s prominence as an economic driver as the primary reasons that geotourism and ‘green’ thinking have only now become a serious topic of conversation. Sadly, that’s human nature. We stick with the status quo because change is difficult and humans like routine. We only change when circumstances are such that not changing becomes more painful than changing our ways, attitudes and priorities.
Is it too late? If the pace of change and innovation do not increase dramatically over what we’ve seen for the past 30 years,…then yes… we will be left in the dust by more proactive and forward thinking destinations. Let’s hope the message gets through. The recent demise of a waterbourne transit option due to lack of dock access does not bode well for progress in transit options.
For starters, most people won’t use public transportation unless it saves them time. Unfortunately, buses rarely do that. And although improving the transportation system and infrastructure in the basin is vitally important, it is definitely not the path to salvation for Lake Tahoe.
So then, is the Prosperity Plan the answer to Tahoe’s woes?
I sure hope so! Why? Because there’s a much greater chance that a proactive think-tank will move towards a rewarding, revitalized Tahoe than will the “locals” that keep complaining about it!
It’s easy to blame all our problems on the powers that be—but what are you doing to make it better? Notice I said “DOING” and not “what have you DONE”. If you’ve given up because of the injustices that the City or TRPA or whoever has done to you in the past—GET OVER IT OR GET OFF THE HILL! Apathy, pessimism and complacency will never revive Tahoe.
And please quit perseverating on the decline of gaming and the ski industry. If it weren’t for those two entities most of us would never have ended up here nor would there have been and type of sustainable economy in the basin for the last 50 years. Yes times have changed. That’s life. Change is the natural process of life. This is our chance to stop the decline and make it a positive change.
The Lake Tahoe Basin Prosperity Plan is working on revitalizing OUR economy. Are these new and novel ideas? Of course not. But this is the first time we’ve had this type of regional collaboration, strategic planning and momentum. Furthermore, times are ripe for change. Economic strife is always the best catalyst innovation and for getting people off their duffs. Moreover, there are millions of dollars out there right now that the state and federal government are wanting to invest to promote local economies. Having a team organized like the LTBPP is our best chance to tap into those funds.
Lastly, I firmly believe that the reason Tahoe is in shambles is because people are proud to say they are “Locals” but they don’t take pride or show pride in our community. This disparity is why our town is floundering in mediocrity and there is actually little community of which to speak.
If we build our community we build our economy. We’re losing people to Genoa, Minden and Gardnerville not because of the cost of living but because of the quality of living. Speak to anyone who lives down there—it may have been the prices that took them there but it’s the community that keeps them there.
A community can revitalize and economy and an economy can revitalize a community. Unfortunately, the SLT community doesn’t have the cohesion to get us where we need to go. So rather than criticizing the Prosperity Plan for trying to facilitate positive change, why not get involved and be part of the solution?
Here’s to our individual, community and basin-wide prosperity!
Jason, very well written, and point taken. I didn’t bail when my little home (shack) value skyrocketed to ridiculous terms. I have been here for twenty years now, and have done much for this community. i.e. coaching youth, volunteering in trail building, cleaning beaches, events, search & rescue, sitting on commitees and much much more.
I am not opposed to any change to better our community, but lets face the truth. The “community” has been stifled from so many regulations for so long that the apathy you mention was bred from the agencies responsible. While the casino’s and ski resorts basically defined the wage scale in the community and set the standard for most other service oriented business.
Yes, the past is the past, but we need to know where we came from in order to move forward correctly.
It’s hard to believe that grown adult believe this nonsense. I can almost imagine that this group start and end their meetings by singing Kumbaya.
Wake up and smell the ganja, folks. South Lake Tahoe medical marijuana dispensaries are helping hundreds of patient to pay their rent and homeowners to pay their mortgage. Real prosperity recognizes emerging markets, not faded reruns from the past.
And please, don’t roll your eyes or make some snide remark. If Tahoe could embrace alcohol and gambling, it shouldn’t be a stretch to embrace legal cannabis for bona fide patients.